Painted Paper and Some Stamp Carving

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  There's Magic In Motion
Yesterday I made myself very proud!  I swam just over 2 miles in the pool!  I still can't believe it!  The swim workout I did included some sprints and lots and lots of laps :)  There was something magical about the motion.  The more I swam, the more I relaxed.  The more I began to feel natural in the water.  And I realize the same thing is true about my art.  I start out and things feel tense - tight - like they are not flowing.  But, I keep moving - I apply more paint to a page; stamp an image; doodle a bit - I create a space where magic can happen.  Just by engaging in the motion you let the Universe know that you are open to the magic.
Today I am sharing some of the results of my motion.  Two painted pieces of dry wax paper (deli paper) that will be turned into something :)  As I was painting the pages I had the urge to do some stamping on the pages, which led me to carve a few stamps of my own.  I hadn't sat down to carve stamps - the carving came to me because I stayed in motion and I waited for the magic to happen!  I hope you have a wonderfully creative weekend filled with magic!!!!!!

ENOUGH Art Journal Page

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  When You Are Stressed, Just Pick Up Some Color And Put It Down
I allow myself to get stressed sometimes...well maybe "sometimes" is an understatement.  I am learning how to adjust my thoughts so that I don't go down the dark stress hole as often as I do.  Part of staying out of the dark stress hole was choosing the word "enough" as my mantra word for this year.  I am enough.  I have enough.  I am doing enough.  I have had enough :)  So today I thought I would share my ENOUGH art journal page that I created for Paper Crafter's Library.  If you are a member of Paper Crafter's Library you can view videos that will provide the step-by-step details of how I created the page.  You can learn more about Paper Crafter's Library by clicking on the Paper Crafter's Library icon on my sidebar on the right.  Or, you can just pick up some color and put it down on a page and begin to explore creating your own page in your own way.  I did that today as well.  Found myself feeling a bit stressed about the disaster that is my craft room.  So I began to move stuff off of the main table and once a space was cleared I decided that I should alleviate the stress by creating something v. spending the entire evening cleaning up :)  I know - it's a bit circular if the mess makes me stressed...but somehow just creating something - anything - alleviates my stress - distracts my mind - lets my intuition take over.  So I just painted a piece of dry wax paper (deli paper) and it will turn into something at some point - perhaps the background for an art journal page, or get cut up and placed into a collage, or made into a roll of art tape.  For now it is just my art therapy :)  I highly recommend the experience! :)

CREATE Art Journal Page

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Resist The Urge To Add On

Today's lesson is not about art-making - although there is probably a lot to be said about "less is more" when it comes to art.  Today's lesson is about gossip and idle chit-chat.  It can be so easy to fall into adding on to or listening in to conversations that are about other people.  After all, if we are busy talking about others we have less time to examine ourselves.  I was proud of myself today - I resisted the urge.  I was a party to a conversation that wasn't about me - it was about others.  And the urge bubbled up to add a piece of "juicy gossip" to the dialogue...and I swallowed it.  I didn't go there.  And I feel really good about that.  This is something I'm going to make a conscious effort around - to resist the urge to add on (except when it comes to my art! :)

Today I'm sharing the first art journal page I created for Paper Crafter's Library.  I was like a kid in a candy store when I was asked to start creating pages (in addition to the cards and other projects I create/design for them).  The pages allow me to play with any and every supply I have on hand and I love it!  I will continue to share the pages I have created for Paper Crafter's Library - old and new.  I hope they inspire you to give art journaling a try!  For full video instructions for my Paper Crafter's Library art journal pages you can check out the information on becoming a member by clicking on the Paper Crafter's Library icon in my sidebar on the right.

Stamp with Stampin' Up! LIVE tomorrow!!!!!

Have you ever wished you could stamp with the folks at Stampin' Up!'s home office? Your wish is granted--and your opportunity is here! Here's the basic rundown.
Who: You! And feel free to invite anyone who wants to play along.
What: This is a live, streaming event where we will stamp with the All Wrapped Up Bundle on page 6 of the Sale-A-Bration brochure. Projects will also feature the Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper. Choose your preferred device--computer, tablet, smart phone, or even hook up your computer to your TV--and tune in to learn some fun new things to do with the bundle!
When: March 26, 2014, at 5:30 PM, 7:30 PM, and 11:00 PM (all times MT). We'll demonstrate the same projects each time, so choose the one that's best for you.
Where: You don't even have to leave home. Come to www.youtube.com/stampinupvideo at your chosen time, and be prepared to stamp! We'll also award door prizes to random participants.
Why: So many occasions are coming--Easter, Mother's Day, graduations, and more--and we want to help you be ready.
Hope you can make it. We'd love to have you join us!
*Never hooked up your computer to a TV before? Do a search on YouTube and you'll find loads of instructional videos. Make sure to do a practice run before March 26 so you don't miss out on any of the party.

Magnetic North Art Journal Page & Second Life For A Red Balloon

Today's Question From The Craft Room:  How Do You Measure A Year In The Life?
As I am typing this, the song from the show Rent entitled Seasons of Love is running through my head.  Have you heard it?  If not, you can listen to it here.  I've been thinking a lot about this lately - how do I measure a year in my life?  Is it by minutes spent traveling for work?  Dollars earned?  Love experienced?  Minutes walked outside with my beautiful dog?  Amount of time spent in the craft room?  Which measurements feel more significant to me?  To society?  Can I hold onto my own measurements - the ones that are truly important to me and do my best to ignore the measures other people use?  How do you measure a year in the life?  What I do know is that the minutes I spent creating this art journal page and my balloon collage piece were minutes well spent :)
This Magnetic North art journal page was one of the projects I created for Paper Crafter's Library as a Designer/Educator.  If you are interested in being able to access step-by-step videos of how the page was created, you can check out how to subscribe to Paper Crafter's Library by clicking on the Paper Crafter's Library icon on my sidebar on the right.  Otherwise, I will be sharing pictures of the completed pages with you here on my blog (I have a bit of catching up to do since I have already created a few pages for them - I will try to share the other pages I have done during my posts this week)!
I also wanted to share a bit of fun I had today.  On a recent walk in February, Buddy and I came across a deflated balloon being blown along the street.  I decided to pick it up and bring it home (yes, I'm kind of like a crow/magpie - picking up shiny things on my walks!).  Today I decided to start cutting it up and collaging it onto a piece of dry waxed paper.  This is what I ended up with...the balloon (what's left of it) is on the left and the collaged paper is on the right.  One of these days I will share what I end up doing with the collage paper!  Hopefully I'll think if something soon :)

A Second Life For Ribbon & Fabric Scraps?

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Take A First Step In Some Direction
So I've woken up a few mornings thinking about taking my fabric and ribbon scraps and ironing them on to fusible web.  Today I finally decided that I needed to follow through on the thought and do it...even though I have no idea what direction this will take me.  The task was complicated a bit by the fact that we blew a fuse in the house today so I only have one light in the craft room and one working outlet.  But I persevered - at least up to this point - and I have no clue what I will be doing next with this sheet.  I would still like to add more scraps, threads and bits and then your guess is as good as mine :)  But that's not stopping me.  Sometimes you just need to take a first step in some direction to get moving!  I will definitely share where this takes me!

Completed Art Journal Page: Spring!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Give It Time To Unfold
I finished the page today!  I am writing this on Thursday evening - the first day of Spring.  And I guess it is no coincidence that as I kept working on this page I was inspired to add the word "spring!"  The page feels very alive to me - vibrant, growing, promising.  This page was definitely a lesson in giving my art time to unfold.  Not forcing.  Not pushing.  Being willing to walk away and come back to take a fresh look.  This was the first page I created in a new Moleskine sketchbook that has pages that are 11 1/4"x16 1/2"!  It felt a bit intimidating - looking at that large blank page...but the intimidation didn't last long :)  I began by painting off of the page - just painting a piece of dry waxed paper (deli paper).  The paper eventually got adhered to the page and then paint (and stitching) was added around and on top of the dry waxed paper.  Here are a few close ups...I am looking forward to my next unfolding :)

A Little More Progress On The Page

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Notice
I am slowly making more progress on the art journal page that I shared yesterday.  I found myself wanting to add some hand-stitching to the piece (not an easy task since hand-stitching is not something I have done a lot of).  Of course I then decided I wanted to include French knots :)  So, off to YouTube I went to find a video on how to make them.  I'm not consistent yet, but it has been fun learning.  I've also begun to take more notice at the thoughts that bubble up as I am working on this page.  Yes, the usual critic is rearing his ugly head again - asking me why I am spending time on this page - asking me "What's the point?"  And then I also notice what was on the radio when I was driving home from swimming this morning.  Two stories - one right after the other.  One was about a 17-year old girl who had become addicted to marijuana and how it had impacted her life.  She was in a program at school that was built to help teens through this addiction and one of the things she felt was helping her a lot was art.  She talked about how making art provided a distraction for her - distraction from negative thoughts and cravings.  She mentioned how fascinated she was right now with roses and drawing them - how the petals fold in so many different ways.  Next was a story about teens in Lyons, Colorado who had experienced the devastation of flooding last year.  With the assistance of a few adults, they put together a book of photos about their experience.  Using art to express and to heal.  So yes, I notice what the Universe is saying in response to my inner critic.  Why do I create art?  Why do I spend time stitching French knots to a page?  Because it allows my mind to focus on something positive and distracts me (if I can allow the inner critic's thoughts to just pass by) from negative thinking.  It also provides me an opportunity to express myself and to heal myself.  And ultimately, I hope that maybe it will inspire you to do the same.

Art Journal Page In Progress

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  You Can't Force What Needs To Happen In Its Own Time
I have been pretty immersed in this art journal page.  What I thought might take me a day is taking time over several days to complete.  I keep adding, waiting, listening for my gut to tell me what to do next.  It's been a wonderful process...and has led to my not posting something for you yesterday :)  I finally decided I could just take a picture of one piece of the page and post that - just to share something with you.  This page is teaching me that you can't force what needs to happen in its own time.  This piece will be done when it is ready to be done.  In the meantime, I will keep showing up and allow it to unfold.

Taking Time On My Travels

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Take Time During Your Work Travels To Appreciate What Is Around You
When I travel for work I often spend most, of not all, of my time in cars, buildings and planes.  I was very fortunate to discover that my trip last week had me staying at a location that actually had beautiful scenery and a 2-mile walking/biking path.  I took full advantage of it and wanted to share a few of the amazing scenes I encountered.  I have a feeling a piece of artwork focusing on trees is in my future :)  Enjoy!

More Deli Paper Painting

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Go With Your Own Flow

As you can tell, I've really been enjoying painting deli paper! Just allowing myself to place paint and marks on paper without allowing myself to get caught up in a lot of thinking has been amazingly freeing! I feel like this journey is bringing me closer to my inner artist - closer to finding marks and patterns that are authentic to who I am. I like approaching the page not knowing what it is going to turn into. It is definitely an adventure of going with my own flow and trusting that it will take me to a place of discovery and authenticity. What would it look like if you allowed yourself to go with your flow?

New Photopolymer Stamp Sets - Sweetie Pie!

How funny that the day I posted a face stamp, Stampin' Up! releases two new photopolymer stamp sets and one of them is all about faces! :)  Must be fate!  Check out these adorable sets!  Each one is only $13.95.  Sweetie Pie (#136849) has twelve adorable little face stamps and Sweetie Pie Frames (#137121) has an assortment of frames and greetings.  Click HERE to order these cute sets now! :)

Hand Carved Face Stamp

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Set Your Mind To It And Go Do It!
While eating my breakfast yesterday I began to watch a video on YouTube by Suzi Dennis that began with her sharing an art journal page with an image of a stamped face.  She then showed the stamp she had hand carved to create the face.  That's when I stopped the video.  I had just finished my breakfast and I thought to myself, "I can carve a face stamp!"  So off I went into the craft room!  I already had a face in mind.  I had actually taken a picture of my tv screen when I was watching a commercial and the sweetest face appeared on the screen.  The child's eyes were so big and beautiful and I captured the image on my camera thinking that I would try to draw that beautiful face one day.  Little did I know that face would become a stamp.  So I looked at the face and drew out a sketch of what I saw.  I then transferred the image onto Speedball Speedy Cut material and carved the stamp using a carving tool (that you see in the photo).  I was patient - recognizing that if I took my time I might create something that I could use over and over again for years to come.  If you told me yesterday that I would make a face stamp that I was proud of I would have laughed at you in disbelief.  As I am writing this and looking at the stamp I created I am reminded what can happen when you set your mind to something and just go and do it!  You will definitely be seeing this face in some upcoming artwork! :)

Painted Scratch Paper

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It's OK To Not Have A Plan
This painted paper began as the scratch paper that sits underneath whatever else I am stamping or painting on my craft room table.  If there is extra paint to mop up or I want to stamp off or empty a paintbrush of excess paint, this is a page to do that on.  Yesterday I decided to take the sprayed, stamped, painted piece and begin to cover it with color and marks intentionally.  This is the result.  I have been enjoying painting paper in this way - just adding color as I like - adding marks if the urge strikes - placing colors next to one another in total ignorance of the color wheel.  What is even more wonderful is that as I am painting I have no idea as to what I am going to do with this paper!  There is something about the fact that I don't have a plan and that it is scrap paper that let's me be free.  It allows me to explore without worrying about the consequences - after all, I don't have a plan anyway!  It even allowed me to take out some of my higher quality paints - after all, I'm not using a lot and the color is so pretty.  Now I am beginning to wonder where this page will end up.  Will I frame it?  Will I cut it into strips and make it into tape?  Will I cut it into all different shapes and collage it onto another page?  Or maybe I will just adhere it whole into an art journal.  Who knows!  And that's the beauty of it.  It is OK to not have a plan!  You may even find that not having a plan quiets your inner critic and sets you free to simply play!  Enjoy!!!!!

Art Tape Covered Journal

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Work With What's In Front Of You!
I have been playing around with making different painted art tapes and somehow the urge struck me to roll some of them up and take them with me on my last work trip.  On my flight I remembered that they were in my bag and I began to wonder what I could do with them.  The little Moleskine journal that I had with me was in my lap and an idea was hatched!  Why not cover the journal?!  So I began tearing little pieces of the tape and randomly adhered the little pieces to the front...and then the back...cover.  The colors and shapes totally transformed this little journal into a tiny piece of art :)  I love the idea of working with what's right there in front of you!  What is in front of you right now that you could transform into a work of art? (uh-oh...the idea just crossed my mind to cover my computer in painted art tape!  Something tells me I should identify something else...but you never know! :)

Painted Art Tape

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Can Talk Myself Out Of It As Easily As I Can Talk Myself Into It
I struggle with balancing my multiple interests.  I love art making and the idea of going somewhere to be with a community of other people who share that same interest is very appealing!  So lately I've been looking at different art retreats to see if there is one I might attend.  The minute I found one and started looking at plans and dates, some other interests started creeping in.  As some of you know, I travel quite a bit for my work.  You may also already know that I love being home.  So the idea of coming home from a work trip to then turn around for an art retreat...is causing me a bit of angst :(  The idea of more nights in hotels seems to be squashing down the idea of traveling to be with a community of people who are equally interested in exploring their creativity.  So maybe I am better off trying to find something local that can quench my thirst?  And yet a local option won't provide the "art immersion" experience I am craving.  So here I am (yes, I'm a Libra), in my mental spin...talking myself out of it as easily as I can talk myself into it...and back around again.  If I actually make a decision, I'll let you know :)
Today I wanted to share with you some of the art tape I created from the painted deli paper I shared on Monday.  I used Mod Podge to adhere the paper to the tape - might try some other methods in the future to figure out what works best for me.  Tomorrow I will share with you one way I have put these special tapes to use!  I can imagine using this decorative tape in much the same way washi tape is used....the possibilities are endless!!!! :)

More Deli Paper Painting!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Leave Something Around You Can Walk By And Add To
I am all for setting aside large blocks of time to immerse myself in creativity.  At the same time, I recognize that I can easily allow my life to get in the way of my creativity (something I continue to work on) and that sometimes I even use not having a block of time as an excuse to not create.  What I am loving about painting these deli papers is that I have been leaving a piece (or two) out on the craft room table and when I walk by the craft room I can just dart in and quickly add something to the page - maybe ink up a stamp and do some stamping, or grab a gel pen and add a doodle here and a doodle there.  It's easy to do something quick and dart back out of the craft room and continue on with whatever else I was doing.  It feels quite spontaneous and I love the uncertainty of where the piece will end up.  So give it a try...leave something around you can walk by and add to!
Doris asked a few questions yesterday about the deli paper so I want to provide some responses :)  The deli paper is exactly what it sounds like - the dry wax paper that is commonly used in restaurants to wrap up a sandwich.  It is not thick like freezer paper...think more like the sheet of light paper that is placed in a french fry basket to soak up the excess grease :)  I am really loving painting and writing and stamping on these papers - partly because it feels like such a low-risk activity.  After all, these papers are VERY INEXPENSIVE!  You can buy a box of 500 sheets for less than $10!  I bought mine from Sam's Club and the sheets are 12" x 10 3/4".  As for what to do with the sheets once they are painted?  Well, I am turning some of them into art tape!  I watched a video by Suzi Dennis where she had some rolls of art tape she was working with and I decided to venture out on my own to try to figure out how to do it!  The easier way might have been to have purchased her how-to video...but I'm a stubborn one when it comes to trying to figure something out when I think I can! :)  I still may watch that video...if anything as a thank you for her wonderful inspiration! :)  I am also planning to use the pages in my art journal and collage pieces.  You could even use them for decoupage!  And, of course, you could also just frame a piece and display it "as is."  The beautiful thing about deli paper is that it is incredibly strong (especially after painting it with acrylic paint) and it becomes quite transparent when you adhere it to other surfaces with matte medium.  Let me know if you have more questions!  I am happy to share my adventure with deli paper with you! :)

Painting On Deli Paper

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Give It A Try
I have a habit when I am traveling - I like to watch other artists making art on YouTube.  Even if I am standing in line waiting to board a plane you will likely find me watching a video of someone painting, stamping, cutting or pasting!  I find it incredibly soothing.  (I have really been enjoying videos by Jane Davies and Suzi Dennis lately!)  Of course, there is a bit of it that is frustrating as well - knowing I am far from my craft room - far from my paints and stamps and pens and brushes.  I store up all of that frustration and turn it into desire so that when I get home I am bursting to get into the craft room and start creating!  When I got home from this most recent trip I ran into the craft room and started playing with paints, sprays, stamps and ink!  I decided to give deli paper a try - using it first to stamp off on or to brush extra paint off of my paint brush.  Then I took the random piece and became a bit more intentional with it.  This is the result.  I'm ready to start my next piece!!!! :)  So if you are like me and find yourself watching other artists create on YouTube, I encourage you to give what you are watching a try!  If you are watching the video you obviously are attracted to the creative process...why not unleash it?!?! :)

Floral Purse Card Set by Christy Fulk

Check out this fun and flirty Floral Purse Card Set by Christy Fulk!  This is the February Bonus Project over at Craft Project Central.  This project will give you a little Spring in the middle of this cold Winter.  The set includes two different designed Thank You cards.  The purse can hold six of these cards, along with matching lined envelopes.  This card set would make a great gift for anyone who loves purses, and make a great class, too!  Bonus projects can be obtained by subscribing to two or more months in a row, putting the Craft Project Central badge on your blog, or by referring a friend and when they subscribe, letting Craft Project Central know.  Head on over to Craft Project Central for more details!

Mixed Media Play

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Art Makes Me Wonder
I visited a museum today and was attuned to my thoughts as I walked through the galleries.  I seem to pay attention to the dates of an artist's life and then look at what year, or at what age, a particular piece was made.  If there are a number of pieces by the same artist, I like to try to discern growth or change over the course of time.  I wonder what they were thinking when they were painting a particular piece.  I wonder what became less important and more important to them as they aged.  I wonder how much time those hyper-realistic still life oil paintings took and how someone could devote such time and attention to getting that piece of fruit or that flower "just right."  I wonder about color choice - did that color come out of some kind of tube or was it mixed by hand.  I wonder what the artist would think of someone standing in front of their painting, wondering all of this :)  Yes, art makes me wonder.  It makes me ask questions about the artist, about the subject in the painting, about the world, about what it means to be human and creative.  Art awakens my curiosity.  More often than not it does not provide answers - it offers more questions and in this way energizes me.  How can art make you wonder today?  What questions will you ask?
Today I am sharing a temporary creation - something that came about on my art table when I took various bits and pieces that I had sitting out and just put them on top of each other!  It didn't last long - long enough for me to take a picture so that I could share it with you.  Now the bits and pieces will find new homes - maybe homes that will be more permanent this time around :)